A.G. Gancarski
According to the final poll of the Democratic race for Governor, Gwen Graham looks poised to be the nominee.
While a seven-point poll lead on election eve would normally be cause for celebration, Graham on Monday was considering Duval County’s desolation after a weekend bookended by high-profile mass shootings after a high-school football game Friday night and a Madden video game tournament Sunday afternoon.
For Graham, who has called throughout the campaign to turn “anguish” over mass shootings into “action” in the form of “common sense gun reform,” the events required a conversation with Jacksonville leaders looking for a way forward.
On a day when both Republican candidates, Adam Putnam and Ron DeSantis, canceled Jacksonville events, Graham pushed forward, confident in the importance of her message, hammering the National Rifle Association (NRA), and predicting that the gun lobby’s time calling the shots in Tallahassee is over.
She addressed root causes of violence in the roundtable, noting that “breaking the cycle of poverty … hopelessness” is key, as well as noting the seeming randomness of the shootings at Jacksonville Landing.
“No more excuses, no more BS,” Graham said about Florida gun laws, including the sale of military-style assault weapons.
Graham’s visit to Jacksonville was scheduled before Sunday’s violence. She pilloried DeSantis and Putnam for canceling their Jacksonville appearances, saying that they “absolutely” should have come to town.
“Today is about another example of senseless gun violence in the state of Florida, and we need to address what we would be doing as Governor to provide safety and security in our communities,” Graham said.
“The fact that they were afraid to come and answer the questions says all that needs to be said,” Graham said.
“We all see what’s going on. Gun violence is all over the state, all over the country every single day,” Graham added, noting that the Landing incident is the 22nd mass shooting in Florida in 2018.
“The gun lobby is not going to have control over Tallahassee anymore,” Graham vowed.
Graham, as she is wont to say, went up against “the gun lobby” in 2014. Even after the NRA spent nearly $300,000 against her, she won her Congressional race.
“Gun violence is something we’ve had way too long. We’ve had a Legislature that has done whatever the NRA wanted. Marion Hammer,” Graham said, “standing in the middle between the citizens and the legislators, and guess who they listened to? Marion Hammer.”
“I have a word for Marion Hammer,” Graham vowed. “Your time as the one who’s controlling what we do in the state of Florida is over.”
5 comments
Frankie M.
August 27, 2018 at 6:10 pm
When black kids shoot each other it’s because they’re gangbangers/thugs with no regard for the value of human life. When white suburbanites do the same thing it’s because mommy didn’t love them enough or daddy’s payday wasn’t enough.
Default
August 29, 2018 at 11:22 am
Well now wasn’t that a racist comment. How about the truth. Poor parenting… black men are getting women pregnant and then leaving not being a father not being a guide on life. What do expect? With the grace of God some women pull through it but some fall to drugs or crime and leave the grandmother to raise the kids. It happens in all colors. Your just a BLM Racist by your comment
Elm Creek Smith
August 29, 2018 at 2:11 pm
Is someone going to tell Ms. Graham that the Jacksonville Landing shooter was from Maryland, got his guns there instead of Florida, and carried them into a “gun free zone?” No?
Paul Colson
August 30, 2018 at 11:05 am
I am getting sick and tired of politicians and representatives of politicians want to always reprimand law abiding citizens that out weigh by leaps and bounds law breakers… All for the sake of a paycheck or getting elected You’re part of the problem not the solution…
The most informative and helpful comment here is this one and I quote ” Is
someone going to tell Ms. Graham that the Jacksonville Landing shooter was from Maryland, got his guns there instead of Florida, and carried them into a “gun free zone?” No? ”
A Big Thank You to, Elm Creek Smith for being the mature knowledgeable adult here. and siting real facts and journalism when the “real” journalists can’t even do their job honestly… People need to vote responsibly this November and don’t vote for feelings… For the record I am a REAL Floridian. Please leave that CA Democrat mentality in CA.
Not Really About guns
August 30, 2018 at 8:53 am
NRA is about gun safety, self defense, proper use in modern society. Your mass (False Flag) shootings were for one purpose, one purpose only- stir up the bleeding hearts. Get democrats back in power, give your people prozac instead of self defense training. OH and a heavier burden on your police.
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